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Who says girls are dumb?
By Tamara Uselman, Supt.
Science magazine reports that somewhere around the pivotal point of first grade, girls decide they are not, “really, really smart”, not like boys are, anyway. The researchers said this (as reported in The Washington Post): “…the results suggest that gender stereotypes about brainpower take root at a pivotal point in childhood — around first grade — and can profoundly influence academic and career choices long afterward.”
When girls are led to thinking males are have more brains and talent than women, girls become less motivated to pursue non-traditional careers. Sadly, the study showed, “…that at younger ages, girls are more likely to see members of their own gender as superlatively intelligent.” “But as they became older and began attending school, children apparently began endorsing gender stereotypes.” Now stories like that oughta just frost the flakes of anyone who is female, has been female, was raised by a female, or knows a few.
Schools are blamed for a lot of bad stuff that society is responsible for, in my opinion. And this study is no exception. While I do not disagree that need to ensure our classrooms avoid subtle messaging that girls are less capable of critical thinking, less able to develop creative solutions, less able to communicate with force and clarity, and less able to add to the intelligence pool when collaborating with peers than are boys, I say those researchers never met this kid.
Renae Hoffman Walker, our Community Relations leader, received an email from Messina, a fifth grader at one of our schools. Messina said, “I am very happy to inform you about our great success in raising money for the backpack program. Using problem solving skills, business skills, and communication skills, we learned how to become business [people], and put together two events to raise the maximum amount of donations we could give to the backpack program, here are the steps we used to get us as far as we did.
Step 1.Our teacher Mrs. Sagsveen got a letter on her computer telling how the backpack program needed help raising $40,000 or more. She asked us if we wanted to do something about it, and we answered that with deciding do a hat day within our school. We created several different committees to do certain things, like the poster committee would make all the posters, hang them up, and take them [down] when appropriate. The poster committee made posters for the hat day, the ideas committee (most of our class) said that the suggested donation should be $1.00 or more, but if you didn't have a dollar you could still wear a hat. We got about $700 from that, but we still had to put some aside for the main event.
Step 2.Our class decided that we would have a snack shack that would contain healthy snacks only. Our first obstacle was allergies, some kids in our school had allergies and might not want to buy things at the snack shack. We decided just not to have snacks that some kids might be allergic to. The second obstacle we had to face was germs and refrigeration. We decided to use a friend's fridge, bowls of ice, and a lunch pack. With the germs, we had bought packaged items instead of open items and homemade items, (exceptfor the fresh fruit). Once again, the poster committee made posters, and the snack shack was under way of being approved. As soon as the snack shack was approved, we got started buying and selling the snacks. This lasted for a week and then ended. We got back our spent profits ($160, $130, $140...), and over $550 in real profits!
The result. I am very proud to say that we made over $1,300 for the backpack program.”
Messina ended by saying they may plan another big event and, “…our only problem is we need someone to give [the check] to, but otherwise everything is prepared.” Renae helped get Messina linked up with United Way’s backpack program and Jena Gullo will accept the funds on Wednesday!
In this intercom, I am not trying to start a gender war. After all, if it wouldn’t be for both of us (males and females) there wouldn’t be any of us. I just wanted to say that when students get the opportunity for good, solid project based learning, sexual stereotypes seem to slip away and leaders emerge. And what is life, in the end, anyway, but one big project based learning event?!
Retiring, Resigning, Leave of Absence & New Contracts
Retirements & Resignations at the end of the 2016-17 school year:
- Employees who are retiring or resigning need to send a letter of resignation to the HR Office. Teacher and administrator resignations/retirements will be placed on the school board agenda for their approval. Support staff resignations are handled by the Human Resources Office.
- Compensation for unused sick leave will be granted to teachers & administrators who have worked for the district 10 or more years. Teachers and professional support staff will receive $25 per day of remaining sick leave. Administrators will receive $30 per day of remaining sick leave. The maximum payment for unused sick leave for teachers, administrators and professional support staff who resign prior to March 1 is $4,000 and the maximum payment after March 1 is $3,500.
- Support staff who have worked for the district for 10 or more years who leave the district due to retirement or resignation will be paid $20 per day of unused sick leave not to exceed $3,000.
- All staff members are paid their regular rate of pay for any unused personal leave or vacation leave.
Teachers interested in taking a leave of absence must submit a written request for a leave of absence by March 15, 2017 to the HRManager. The deadline date for administrators interested in taking a leave of absence is Feb. 15, 2017. A leave of absence will not be granted to teachers or administrators with less than four years of teaching/administrative experience in BPS. The Superintendent will determine if the district is able to approve the request based on the needs of the district and ability to fill the position with a one year contract.
Contracts for the 2017-18 school year:
This spring/summer, the Bismarck School Board will enter into negotiations with the Bismarck Education Association (BEA) and the Bismarck Association of School Administrator (BASA) for the next cycle of contracts for the 2017-18 school year. Contracts will be issued to current teachers and administrators once the new contracts have been approved by the BEA and BASA and the School Board.
For additional information, contact the HR Office at 4070 or 4072 or email Lisa Kudelka at .
Congratulations!
CHS band director Chris Dasovickwill be recognized as the 2017 recipient of the ND chapter of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence at the State Music Educators Association Conference next month. The award is given to a candidate who has completed 11 years or more of teaching in band music and displays outstanding success in areas such as teaching skills, musicianship, leadership and consistent high level of performance by their ensembles.
Becky Riedinger, K teacher at Liberty, has received a Classroom Build Grant from the North DakotaEducational Technology Council. Her project was one of 38 proposals approved for funding out of 97 applications received. Twenty Chromebooks will be purchased for her classroom.
Community Corner
Take this 5-min survey: Bismarck Parks & Rec invites residents to participate in a community survey and share their views on programs, parks, trails and facilities. The survey can be found on the BPRD website, Deadline is Feb. 14.
Attention 3rd & 7th grade teachers: The ND League of Cities invites your students to participate in the Mayor for a Day essay contest.
For more information, view memo orcontact Carissa Richter at 223-3518 or .
Attention 4-8th grade teachers: The Bismarck Human Relations Committee is sponsoring a Human Rights essay & poetry contest. All entries must be postmarked or emailed by Friday, February 17, 5 pm. Bismarck Mayor Mike Seminary will present a special award to selected entrants at a ceremony. Click here for details.
Poster contest: entries being sought for UTTC powwow poster art for the 2017 event. Winner will receive $500, a powwow jacket, and a booth at the event. Deadline is Friday, February 24, 12 pm. Theme: Communities Stronger Together. Entries should be accompanied by a brief description of how the work expresses the theme, the artist’s name, tribe affiliation, and contact info. ContactSacheen Whitetail Cross 701-221-1796, .
Kupper Automotive:present the 5th Annual $1k Reading Giveaway. Through the dealership Facebook page, they’re giving away $1,000 to one Bismarck Elementary School.The winning school can use the fundstowards the purchase of books or ebooks within their school. Visit Bismarck Motor Companyon Facebook, click the 1K Reading Giveaway tab to vote now through Feb. 28 at 5 pm.
Fish Hatchery TOURS K-5 schools: Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery staff is inviting you to bring your class to tour our facility. The busy season is right around the corner. We will have eggs for Northern Pike & Walleye. The Trout and Salmon will be ready to be stocked out by ND Game & Fish. You can really see what the hatchery does. By the end of April we should have the full grown sturgeon on site preparing for spawning which will take place in June. We generallydo school tours April & May but the hatchery is busy thru middle of July. The tours take about 1 hour. You may want to make a day of it and tour Garrison Dam Power House too.Call for your tour today!Toni Ganje,701-654-7451,. For more information, click here.
ND Junior Duck Stamp Contest: students who want to participate in this contest can find information at or contact , 701-766-4272, ext. 428. The deadline is March 15. Entries can be mailed to the USFWS, Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator, 221 2nd St. NW, Suite 2, Devils Lake, ND, 58301.
Carrie’s Kids ready for Prom: if you know a high school girl who needs a dress, shoes & accessories, give them Carrie Grosz’s number to make an appointment. They can text 701-390-3201.
Attention middle/high school teachers: BMDA is hosting a FREE “How to Help your Students Prepare for Their Future Careers” workshop,June 5-9, 2017. Registration will be limited to a maximum of 24 participants. Those who attend all sessions will be eligible for 2grad credits. The deadline to register isFriday, May 5, unless the maximum registration is reached prior to that date. For more information and to register, questions, contact Judy Sauter at or 222-5530.
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Calendar of Events
2/13 School Board Mtg., 5:15 pm
2/15 DLA, HEC, 8:15-11:45 am
Click here to view full schedule.
Job Opening
Instructional Aide—Wachter(2/6)
Carpentry Instructor 2017-18 (2/12)
FACS Teacher 2017-18 (2/12)
Girls Soccer Coach—CHS (2/14)
Instructional Aides 2016-17 (2/28)
Substitute Teachers (2/28)
Click here to view full list.
Poll workers needed
BPS needs paid poll workers for the March 7 election for middle/high school space. If you know someone age 16 and older who wants to work from about 7am to 7 pm, email or call her at 323-4058.
Bond Election Facebook Event
Check out the BPS Bond Electionevent on Facebook. Help get the word out!
Absentee ballots
Some people have asked how they get absentee ballot applications to their kids who are away at college. Here is information they need to vote absentee:
1.Complete one absentee voter application per voter. Fill out page 2 "Voter Affidavit" only if you do not have a valid ID.
2.Download the application, fill it out, and mail it to:Business Office, 806 N. Washington St., Bismarck, ND, 58501 anda ballot will be mailed to you.
3.OR: download the application, fill it out, and email it and she will mail you a ballot.(It cannot be emailed).
4.For the application,click here.
TeachForward
TeachForwardis hosting an event Thurs., Feb. 9at 4:30pm for educators titled “Surviving the Second Half of the School Year.” TeachForward is a program sponsored by ND United and BEA and is designed to support educators in their first 10 years of teaching by providing networking, socializing and professional development opportunities catered to the unique needs of beginning educators. It will take place at Pioneer in Mrs. Mock’s classroom in the basement. Park on the N. side of the school and enter through the first set of E. doors. Food provided.
New website & teacher webpages
The new BPS website is coming this summer! Teacher/classroom pages within the website (currently iAdmin) will be going away by mid-July, so teachers who want a page can either create a closed group on Facebook or create an external website. There are a couple options for setting up a webpage, but BPS staff have free access to creating a site through Google and it is easy to design. We will lose access to the current BPS site, so make sure to save everything you need to move to the new site. Contact the Help Desk, 323-4040, with any questions or other site options.
NOTE: If you ALREADY have a Google site, Facebook page, or other way to communicate with parents, your school secretary can put that link on the new website!
English/math standards
ready for review
Drafts of ND’s proposed new math & English learning standards are now available for a 2ndround of comment.
English:
View 2nd draft.
View 2nd draft, edit markup version.
Math:
View 2nd draft.
View 2nd draft, edit markup version.
Teacher Center Open House
The Teacher Center at Hughes (door 6) is having an open house Monday, Feb. 13, 4-6 pm, to showcase new Makerspace and STEM materials.Stop by and check out little bits, robotics, circuitry parts, building, creating, coding, & many more activities!
Review information in iVisions
Please login to iVisions and review your contact information as well as your emergency information to ensure your records are up-to-date. This is critical information in case of an emergency. If you have a district cell phone you must provide it as part of your contact info.
Login to the iVisions Web Portal on the BPS Website
Click on the BPSAPPS.ORG
Click on the Employee Login Portal
Scroll down
Click on the iVisions link
Enter User Name: First Name_Last Name
Enter Your Password: Network Password
Select Employee Resources/Profile/Contact Information
Review all contact information. Modify if needed. Please note the modification needs to be reviewed and posted by the accounting department.
Select Employee Resources/Profile/Emergency Contacts
Review all emergency contact information. Modify if needed. Updates to emergency contacts are posted immediately.
Seussical the Musical
Simle students will perform Seussical the Musical on Friday, March 3 & Saturday, March 4 at 7 pm in the Simle Auditorium. A freewill donation will be taken with a suggested price of $3 for students; $6 for adults. For more information, contact SMS Associate Choral Director Jacy Walker, 323-4850, ext. 6339, .
Courses
University of North Dakota has partnered with VESi to provide online professional development courses for 2-3 grad credits with fees starting at $250. To view course list, click here.
Twitter Chat Tuesdays!
Join colleagues on Twitter from 8:30-9 pm Tuesdays as we discuss important topics in education. Follow and tweet to #learnbps.
You can earn latte hours by participating. Sign up in Tracker and participate in both Twitter Sessions within the month listed:
Not sure where to start using Twitter? Go here for tips: Need a reminder to join the chat? Sign up here:
Send submissions for the intercom to , 323-4091.